What Kind of Painkillers Do You Take?

JanJan63

I have other issues besides the cancer and I'm starting to have them really affect my quality of life. They were there before the cancer but with the subsequent blood clot and stroke and being paralyzed after I haven't been as active as I was before everything. Well, now I am and my issues are cropping up again.

I have sciatica and degenerative disc disease. I generally sleep well but since I've become more active I have irritated those areas. It's making me very frustrated and angry. I'm so happy to be more active and able to get out and do things and now this. 

I take straight codeine several times a day, 30 mgs per tablet. I was prescribed it to try to slow down my output in my pouch because its always very liquidy. It makes very little difference but I keep getting it because it helps a bit with the pain. But it doesn't help enough and I'm scared of it becoming less effective and it's not a good thing to live on. I can not get comfortable no matter what I do. Lying down, sitting, walking, standing, everything makes it hurt. Sometimes at night I get up and just pace.

I have some oxycodon or however it's spelled put away from a couple of years ago. I have something like 12 left. I haven't taken one for over a year and I took them only sparingly to start with. My husband has been bugging me to take them so I can get some sleep. They're hard to get, the doctors act like I'm an addict when I had to ask for more a couple of times and then would only give me six at a time. This was when I was having my incision infection packed and the nurses were acting like getting more was no big deal, but it was to the doctors. It was embarassing.

Do any of you know of a pain killer that is something easy to get prescribed and actually works well? And not a worry about addiction or trying to get more? I remember being in recovery after one of the surgeries and the guy in the next bed had had back surgery. He was screaming from pain but they couldn't give him anything that helped because he'd been taking so many painkillers before the surgery that he was immune to them or something like that. Thats pretty scary.

And I've tried the exercises and everything that's been suggested for the siatica but nothing has helped.  

Thanks for any help!

Jan

Tunadog

I try not to.

I generally take Ibuprofen for my minor Rectal pain. My Oncologist also prescribed Norco 5/325 (Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen) which I take sparingly as I don't want any opioid problems. He gave me a script for 100 pills a month.

I understand the OxyContin is 1 1/2 times as powerful as the Norco.

Have you talked to a pain management doctor?

 

Joan M

My doctor said to take

My doctor said to take Naproxen Sodium because of I am worried about effects on my liver.  I have taken Oxycodone, but I dont like the side effects. 

You should try going to a physical therapist to see if they can help with the pain.  I had to go because of dislocations in my low back and also in my neck.  They showed me exercises to increase the muscle strength and it helped alot.

The problems you are describing are probably more serious than mine were, but  if they dont give you pain meds, you need to try something different.  I used a heating pad and a topical lotion, like Aspercreme.  Icy Hot can help too, but I dont like tht strong smell. 

Good luck!

Good luck Jan 

JanJan63

Thanks you guys. I've been to

Thanks you guys. I've been to a physiotherapist in the past for the sciatica and done the execrises, the vitamin B supplements that are supposed to help, all that stuff. I've yet to find anything that helps. I don't know if it's because I don't have it from my back, I have it from the big muscle in my left buttock- I forget what it's called- squeezing the nerve that runs through it. Most people have sciatica from back issues and the nerve doesn't run through that muscle for everyone. I spent almost 25 years working in a dental lab and the way the machine is used you end up sitting with no back support and lifting one leg all day. It would be like driving a car for 8 hours with no back rest. This is what startd it all and why I no longer do that for a living but sitting all day at a desk when I was working is really irritating it and now that I'm riding lots and doing yard work and other physical things it's become really bad again. 

I sleep with a heating pad under my butt and my back but it just eases it a bit. I see my onc this afternoon and I'll ask her if there's anything.

Jan 

Joan M

Sounds like you have most of

Sounds like you have most of it figured out.  Sitting at a desk bothered me alot too.  Good thing you dont have to do that for now at least.   

beaumontdave

JanJan63 said:

Thanks you guys. I've been to

Thanks you guys. I've been to a physiotherapist in the past for the sciatica and done the execrises, the vitamin B supplements that are supposed to help, all that stuff. I've yet to find anything that helps. I don't know if it's because I don't have it from my back, I have it from the big muscle in my left buttock- I forget what it's called- squeezing the nerve that runs through it. Most people have sciatica from back issues and the nerve doesn't run through that muscle for everyone. I spent almost 25 years working in a dental lab and the way the machine is used you end up sitting with no back support and lifting one leg all day. It would be like driving a car for 8 hours with no back rest. This is what startd it all and why I no longer do that for a living but sitting all day at a desk when I was working is really irritating it and now that I'm riding lots and doing yard work and other physical things it's become really bad again. 

I sleep with a heating pad under my butt and my back but it just eases it a bit. I see my onc this afternoon and I'll ask her if there's anything.

Jan 

I take a 50mg Tramadol and a

I take a 50mg Tramadol and a 200mg Ibu in the morning withy my coffee just to get up on these lousy feet of mine, then I only repeat at noon or fiveish if I still feel particularly achy. I've mentioned my dance with strong opioids before, and I won't be playing with them again. Tramadol is in the opioid class, but it's way less addicting and constipating. There's little chance of abuse since if I took like three of them, my head would just get a weird, stuffy feeling, but they also don't seem to do much for a lot of folks. You might give them a go, the only other thing that worked was cutting my wife's old lidocaine patches in half and sticking them on the top of my feet. That felt much better, but I ran out of them, and I've been too lazy to get my own script. My suggestion Jan, is to try pain patches right where it hurts. The docs won't worry your abusing them, so getting a good supply shouldn't be hard. For sleep it's meletonin every night, benedryl once in a while, and Xanax if I'm really jacked up and can't sleep. Benedryl can leave me a bit groggy in the morning, but otherwise I don't suffer any after-effects..............Dave

Betsydoglover

Sciatica

I had hideous sciatica / leg / hip nerve pain.  I know what you are going through.  Pain killers of various kinds did nothing - it's a different kind of pain.

It turned out it was all caused by me needing a hip replacement.  That was the BEST thing I have ever done for myself.

Not saying this is your problem, but seeing an orthopedic surgeon might be a good step.  Not everything we go thru is a result of chemo.

JanJan63

Betsydoglover said:

Sciatica

I had hideous sciatica / leg / hip nerve pain.  I know what you are going through.  Pain killers of various kinds did nothing - it's a different kind of pain.

It turned out it was all caused by me needing a hip replacement.  That was the BEST thing I have ever done for myself.

Not saying this is your problem, but seeing an orthopedic surgeon might be a good step.  Not everything we go thru is a result of chemo.

I've had this for years and I

I've had this for years and I know it's not that but you're right, the pain is unbelievable. Just a dull ache that feels like it's right through the whole leg, bone and everything. I can hardly think about anything else when it's bad. And I cannot get comfortable no matter what position. It's frustarting because I'm looking for work and I can't stand a lot or sit a lot. I need something with both.

Jan

ron50

I am still waiting for the miracle pain killer.

    I am not on any painkillers. I have severe neuropathy to a degree it appears now to be affecting motility in my remaining colon. I have osteo penia and spine degeneration from two years of high dose prednisone. I have psoriatic arthritis and moderate osteo arthritis in most of my joints. I have high levels of urea in my blood that zyloprim barely controls. I have severe nephrotic syndrome of the kidneys (auto-immune) I take cyclosporine twice a day. Untreated I lose over 8 grams of protein a day thru my kidneys. Because of my kidney problems I am not allowed to take any form of non steroidal anti-inflammatory. I spent two years on targin (80mg oxycodone and 40 mg naloxone) . I suffered so badly from opiate induced constipation I had to give it up. Also the oxy became totally ineffective. It caused opiate dependence and it took me 34 weeks to get it out of my system. I have tried lyrica , neurontin, endep ,norspan and fentanyl patches. All caused more side effects than the pain. My nephrologist has told me straight out that replacement surgery is not an option. My immune system is so compromised by cancer, cancer treatments and immuno-suppressants , he said I would unlikley survive surgery or the post surgery healing. The Prednisone I was on was for a misdiagnosis of my kidney disease. It not only wrecked my bones but put me into type two diabetes. I cannot take prednisone any longer because of the diabetes , it puts my sugars thru the roof. I have moderate auto-immune hepatitis from all of the meds I am on so doctors try very hard not to prsecribe anything else for me..   I am flat out walking more than 200 meters before I have to sit down. Fifteen years ago I was walking every day and on average would cover up to fifty miles a week. I have had a lot of physio and numerous bouts of dry needling accupuncture. The physios would help for a short time and the accupuncture did not help at all.   My only salvation is that I have a high pain threshold  and the fact that i refuse to give up. I still work four days a week and try to get out fishing when I can. Another of my legacies from cancer and 5fu is congestive heart failure. I have to monitor my weight and if it goes up rapidly ( I was in a bad way last year when my legs and lungs started filling with fluid) I have to take double doses of diuretics and limit my fluid intake to a litre a day.

                I have had to rethink my whole existence. Chronic pain seems to be as hard to beat as cancer. I wish that there was an easy way to dampen your pain Jan but like you I haven'been able to find it , Hugs Ron. 

JanJan63

ron50 said:

I am still waiting for the miracle pain killer.

    I am not on any painkillers. I have severe neuropathy to a degree it appears now to be affecting motility in my remaining colon. I have osteo penia and spine degeneration from two years of high dose prednisone. I have psoriatic arthritis and moderate osteo arthritis in most of my joints. I have high levels of urea in my blood that zyloprim barely controls. I have severe nephrotic syndrome of the kidneys (auto-immune) I take cyclosporine twice a day. Untreated I lose over 8 grams of protein a day thru my kidneys. Because of my kidney problems I am not allowed to take any form of non steroidal anti-inflammatory. I spent two years on targin (80mg oxycodone and 40 mg naloxone) . I suffered so badly from opiate induced constipation I had to give it up. Also the oxy became totally ineffective. It caused opiate dependence and it took me 34 weeks to get it out of my system. I have tried lyrica , neurontin, endep ,norspan and fentanyl patches. All caused more side effects than the pain. My nephrologist has told me straight out that replacement surgery is not an option. My immune system is so compromised by cancer, cancer treatments and immuno-suppressants , he said I would unlikley survive surgery or the post surgery healing. The Prednisone I was on was for a misdiagnosis of my kidney disease. It not only wrecked my bones but put me into type two diabetes. I cannot take prednisone any longer because of the diabetes , it puts my sugars thru the roof. I have moderate auto-immune hepatitis from all of the meds I am on so doctors try very hard not to prsecribe anything else for me..   I am flat out walking more than 200 meters before I have to sit down. Fifteen years ago I was walking every day and on average would cover up to fifty miles a week. I have had a lot of physio and numerous bouts of dry needling accupuncture. The physios would help for a short time and the accupuncture did not help at all.   My only salvation is that I have a high pain threshold  and the fact that i refuse to give up. I still work four days a week and try to get out fishing when I can. Another of my legacies from cancer and 5fu is congestive heart failure. I have to monitor my weight and if it goes up rapidly ( I was in a bad way last year when my legs and lungs started filling with fluid) I have to take double doses of diuretics and limit my fluid intake to a litre a day.

                I have had to rethink my whole existence. Chronic pain seems to be as hard to beat as cancer. I wish that there was an easy way to dampen your pain Jan but like you I haven'been able to find it , Hugs Ron. 

Geez, Ron. I cannot imagine

Geez, Ron. I cannot imagine what you go through every day. You are probably the toughest person I know of. Your situation makes mine seem small in comparison. So you just take nothing now and tough it out? Wow. That's horrible.

I talked to my onc yesterday and she said to ask my gp for something. He won't give me anything, he just gives me a print out of exercises and stretches which I've done and they were not helpful. I suspect he thinks I didn't try them and am just looking for an easy out. It's funny because he seems to think I'm a superstar for what I've gone though with the cancer and blood clot so why he'd think I'm being a wimp about the sciatica is beyond me. I've also tried every stretch and exercise that I've foud on line but nothing works. I think its because they're designed for most people with sciatica who have it caused by their back, unlike me.

 I had a good night last night with very little pain so today I'm feeling good but I have plans for today so I'll be hurting by tonight. Oh well, it just means that I'm able to get out and do things which I was scared I'd never be able to do when I was paralyzed. That's the blessing. I remember the first time I broke my toe after I started walking again. I was so happy because a person in a wheelchair doesn't break their toe! Only a person walking around does that.

You take care Ron, you're a good guy and this is crap. Cancer should give us a pass for the other stuff.

Hugs back to you,

Jan   

Betsydoglover

JanJan63 said:

I've had this for years and I

I've had this for years and I know it's not that but you're right, the pain is unbelievable. Just a dull ache that feels like it's right through the whole leg, bone and everything. I can hardly think about anything else when it's bad. And I cannot get comfortable no matter what position. It's frustarting because I'm looking for work and I can't stand a lot or sit a lot. I need something with both.

Jan

Probably not hip related, but

Probably not hip related, but I had sciatica for years before my hip was finally diagnosed.  I wish I could make you feel better.

abrub

beaumontdave said:

I take a 50mg Tramadol and a

I take a 50mg Tramadol and a 200mg Ibu in the morning withy my coffee just to get up on these lousy feet of mine, then I only repeat at noon or fiveish if I still feel particularly achy. I've mentioned my dance with strong opioids before, and I won't be playing with them again. Tramadol is in the opioid class, but it's way less addicting and constipating. There's little chance of abuse since if I took like three of them, my head would just get a weird, stuffy feeling, but they also don't seem to do much for a lot of folks. You might give them a go, the only other thing that worked was cutting my wife's old lidocaine patches in half and sticking them on the top of my feet. That felt much better, but I ran out of them, and I've been too lazy to get my own script. My suggestion Jan, is to try pain patches right where it hurts. The docs won't worry your abusing them, so getting a good supply shouldn't be hard. For sleep it's meletonin every night, benedryl once in a while, and Xanax if I'm really jacked up and can't sleep. Benedryl can leave me a bit groggy in the morning, but otherwise I don't suffer any after-effects..............Dave

Tramadol can be addicting

After being on it in the hospital for 4 weeks, I came home to find that I had to wean off of it, as my body was addicted to it.  I felt quite ill if I missed a pill, even though I no longer needed them for pain.  I cut back very slowly - by 1 pill/day every 3 days.   It took me 3 weeks, but anything quicker than that had me feeling quite ill.  Note that I've had Tramadol since then and haven't had any problems.  However, I have never since taken it on such a regular schedule for several weeks at a time.